I refer to the letter written by an angry parent whose Christmas holidays were spoilt because he had to spend some three hours a day to help his daughter with her homework (TMID, 27 December). Luckily, he adds, he did not plan to spend a holiday abroad. And he concluded his letter angrier still. Shame on you he exclaimed. Shame on his daughter’s teachers! Why? For the very simple reason that in order to teach his daughter, these teachers had given her a lot of homework and he had to spend about three hours a day for fifteen days to help her with her homework. And the teachers, continued this angry parent, were in the meantime enjoying their holidays. Which means that if a doctor sends you to hospital, he is not expected to enjoy his holidays!

Teachers are very often criticised not because they do more than is expected of them. In fact, homework is never part of the day’s syllabus and the teacher has to prepare it and correct it in his spare time. Very often at home after school hours. And if he does not give any homework, the great majority of parents rush to school to report him to the head. Even if they have to cancel their holiday abroad!

This parent can solve the problem very, very easily. Write a short note and inform the teachers that you do not want your daughter to do any homework. As simple as that!

Giov DeMartino

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